AFRICA - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

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vate station, Kanal FM, became a foreign affiliate and carries several hours of news,
music, and commentary daily.
The government-owned and controlled Television Togo is the only television station
in Lome and in most of the country. In 1999 a small private television station
began local broadcasts in Aneho with limited programming.
The Constitution mandates equal access to state media; however, the official
media heavily slanted their content in favor of the President and the Government.
The High Authority for Audio-Visual and Communications (HAAC) is charged with
providing equal access to state media as mandated by the Constitution. Although
it is nominally independent, in practice it operates as an arm of the Government.
It is dominated by Eyadema supporters and has not increased opposition access to
the Government-controlled media. An NGO, the Togolese Media Observatory (OTM),
was established in November 1999 with the purpose to protect press freedom and
to improve the professionalism of journalists. OTM’s board and membership include
both government and private journalists. During the year, it met regularly to discuss
journalistic ethics and professional standards.
There were no reports that the Government restricted access to the Internet.
There are about 15 Internet service providers in the country. Most Internet users
are businesses rather than households. Access to the Internet and fax machines also
is possible through many small stores and cafes in Lome and other cities.
At the country’s sole university, academic freedom is constrained by concern
among professors about potential harassment by the Government or antiopposition
militants and the lack of a faculty-elected rector. Teachers’ salaries and students’
stipends rarely are paid on time. University faculty remained on strike over this
issue until January, forcing classes to begin late and almost causing the cancellation
of the school year. Opposition student groups reportedly are intimidated by an informer
system that has led in the past to Government persecution. The only officially
tolerated student groups, Haut Conseil des Movements Etudiants and Union
General des Etudiants et Stagiares du Togo, are pro-Eyadema. An independent student
organization (CEUB) has had longstanding unofficial recognition, and its elected
representatives have participated on university committees. However, in February
students complained that board members bribed by the Government selected
the newly elected CEUB president. On February 17, in response students demonstrated
in protest of the selection of the president; government security forces dispersed
the demonstrators with truncheons and tear gas; some students suffered cuts
and bruises. There were credible reports that the Government used paid agitators
to disrupt student demonstrations and provide a pretext for security forces to disperse
demonstrators and arrest students. One Government agitator was killed on
the university campus in March during a demonstration (see Section 1.a.), and
CEUB leader Lorempo Lamboni went into hiding after being charged by the Government
with responsibility for the events leading to this death; Lamboni remained in
hiding at year’s end. On March 8, several student opposition leaders were sentenced
to 18-month jail terms for inciting riots on the campus of the University of Benin.
During the year, some students fled into self-imposed exile in Ghana before they
could be arrested.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association.—The Constitution provides that
citizens are free to assemble; however, the Government restricts this right in practice.
Although opposition political parties sometimes were able to hold public meetings
in Lome, authorities systematically interfered with the freedom of political opponents
attempting to assemble in the central and northern regions. Government
officials prohibited, and security forces forcibly dispersed, some public demonstrations
critical of the Government.
On January 12, security forces using tear gas and truncheons forcibly dispersed
a UFC march held in Lome to protest the January 13 Liberation Day holiday. There
were credible reports that the Government used paid agitators to disrupt student
demonstrations and provide a pretext for security forces to disperse demonstrators
and arrest students. For example, on March 27, a student demonstration on the university
campus was dispersed and a demonstrator was killed (see Sections 1.a. and
2.a.). On June 20, the Government banned all demonstrations prior to the OAU
summit in early July. On July 6, immediately prior to the opening of the OAU ministerial
meeting in Lome, security forces forcibly dispersed a UFC rally of approximately
200 persons that violated the government ban on demonstrations during this
period; security forces beat several demonstrators. The demonstrators were seeking
release of seven UFC members arrested in February (see Section 1.d.).
In December 1999, police arrested student union leaders and detained them for
several days following a riot allegedly caused when security forces dispersed a student
gathering at a Lome high school. Officials told the arrested students that they
would be held responsible and rearrested for any demonstrations that occurred sub-
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